Uberti 1873 loading issue

[Meakai]

I have a Uberti 1873. After I cleaned my rifle I went to the range, my cartridge jammed on first attempted shot. After removing cartridge, I found that the action worked perfectly until I loaded a cartridge. The cartridge wouldn’t feed into the barrel more that 2/3 of the way. I thought it was the mechanism, but when I tried to feed the cartridge by hand with no mechanism connected, the cartridge stuck the same way. I inspected the barrel and could not see anything block it’s path. Any help would be most appreciated.

[junkbug]

Factory cartridge or reload?

[HWooldridge]

Caliber?

[Hondolane]

Is that 357 mag and do you have factory ammo?

[john.k]

May have a case neck broken in the chamber .

[Meakai]

Factory. 357 mag. Same result with dummy.

[Meakai]

Brand new.

[gc45]

So if we assume the chamber is cut correctly, and for the caliber you wish to load, something is amiss with the ammo but if ammo is assumed to be correct, then something is amiss with the chamber. I would blacken a case just in front of the area exposed in your photo, see if the black rubs off along the case when trying to load it. Perhaps the ammo is to large or tight fitting in which case you might try different ammo. If this ammo is new factory ammo then one can assume it is correct size but strange things happen. I would be sure the ammo and chamber are the same first off but its hard to know unless doing a chamber cast of your rifle. If your ammo is new 357 my guess is the guns chamber is the problem..I'll add that poorly made reloads often have the same results that your asking about..

[delftshooter]

Almost look like it could actually be a 38 special

[Meakai]

357 mag

[cwtebay]

I think that I would push a brass brush through it. Perhaps a cleaning patch (or case head as mentioned) would create this if the cartridge is correct and from a lot you've used from before. Of course stranger things have happened than a factory load being sized incorrectly.

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[Meakai]

Ammo worked previous outing.

[Meakai]

I’ll try anything. Thanks

[Meakai]

I don’t think its an ammo issue. Same ammo worked before and dummy brings same result. Thanks.

[Texas by God]

It looks like you’re trying to put a .45 Colt in a 44-40…..Just kidding [emoji16]


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[delftshooter]

when i zoom in on the photo, it almost looks like the brass is not even going into the barrel..chamber. Like the cartridge stops on the front driving band and the rest hangs out.

[Meakai]

Not sure what that is, but it’s only the barrel and cartridge to deal with. No other components.

[dverna]

Must be something stuck in the front part of the chamber. Try an “L” shaped probe to feel along the chamber wall. A small Allen key held by needle nose plier would work.

[Meakai]

That’s correct.

[Meakai]

Will try. Thanks.

[Meakai]

Feels like it.

[35 Rem]

I'm assuming you have looked down the barrel with a flash light to verify you see the bolt face from the muzzle end?? Action open of course.

[Meakai]

But keep in mind that a dummy round, with no edges or lip to catch, gets stuck as well.

[Meakai]

I should also mention that the cartridge stops like it suddenly ran into an object. In other words, it does not feel like a friction seize.

[35 Rem]

But keep in mind that a dummy round, with no edges or lip to catch, gets stuck as well.

Not sure I understand this. I assume you are talking about an empty case when you say "Dummy Round"? If so, the case mouth is a sharp edge that would interfere with anything in the chamber. If a Dummy Round is a case with only a bullet - i.e. no primer or powder, then it's the same as a live round for chambering functional checks.

[Baltimoreed]

Beings you have the guts out of the way get a dental mirror and a very bright light and look in the chamber.

[Meakai]

Yes. Appeared clear. But, it’s a long stretch to that end, so if there is something very small, it isn’t discernible.

[Meakai]

No. Fake round you buy for dry fire. Full ammo shape.

[Meakai]

Will try.

[Meakai]

Here’s a shot of the dummy round (released from bolt).321376

[Meakai]

Also, what could possibly be stuck there and how would it get there? It definitely feels like it’s running up against something.

[Ruts]

There must be a broken case in there. Have you run a bronze brush from the muzzle end? That might push it out

[Meakai]

It feels something like that, but so far, I can’t see anything. Will check more tomorrow.

[Meakai]

Will try.

[square butte]

Look at the fired brass from your first outing - Did you recover all your fired brass from the first outing ? If so, is there anything amiss on any of your recovered brass ? Do any of your fired cases from your first outing still chamber in your gun ? What brand of ammo were you shooting?

[HWooldridge]

Pull the bolt and look in the chamber from the rear, instead of trying from the muzzle.

[Meakai]

Did not save any brass. However, I shot 50 rounds. After, I took gun apart for cleaning and lube. Did not notice anything at that time, although I did not check with a snap cap at that time. The next time I went to the range, I couldn’t get one shot off.

[Meakai]

Hard to see from that angle. I’ll try again with a mirror.

[square butte]

Always look at your fired brass, even if you don't want to save it for reloading. It'll tell you if you have any issues with your chamber or headspace - Such as oversized. I suspect the front end of one of your fired cases may have seperated and remained in the chamber due to a chamber flaw, brass flaw or both. You did not say what brand of ammo you were using... ?

[kungfustyle]

I had a 44 mag brass break in my Rossi. The back/rim half came out and the rest of the brass was stuck in the rifle. I had to get some https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1007021082?pid=462291 to get it out. Just stopped up the bbl with paper towel just past the case. Melted down the chamber casting alloy with a torch and poured it in from the breach. The stuck case came right out with a few wacks of a rubber mallet and a cleaning rod.

[35 Rem]

What DVerna said about the L shaped object should let you feel the presence of the obstruction. Something as simple as a paper clip straightened out and then bent 90 degrees on the end so it can touch the chamber walls. Lightly push it into the chamber and let the L slide along the chamber wall. There has to be a portion of a case in the front of the chamber.

[Meakai]

Sorry, I don’t recall because I just bought a box at the range. FMJ.

[Meakai]

Okay, I’ll try.

[Meakai]

Good to know. I didn’t realize casings could break in the barrel.

[dverna]

Good to know. I didn’t realize casings could break in the barrel.

Frankly, I doubt a new case would separate like that and even more unlikely it would be the last one you fired. I have fired 100's of thousands of straight wall cases and never had a case separate. They will crack down the side as they get older and more brittle.

I suspect something got trapped there when you cleaned the gun.

Either way, probing the chamber wall will let you know.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[Meakai]

To all. Thank you for all your input and help. It turned out that it is, in fact, a stuck casing. I took it to a gunsmith for removal.

[Meakai]

It’s a casing. I could actually see it when viewed from the receiver end with a flashlight. The gunsmith said that manufacturers put a heavy coat in the chamber to prevent rust. If you don’t clean the gun before shooting it the first time, that will sometimes occur. I usually clean my guns initially and after each range visit, but I was too anxious to shoot it this time around. Lesson learned.

[35 Rem]

Have him take a picture of it so we can see how it broke. I'm like DVerna said, I've never seen a straight wall case fail except longitudinal cracks but the way you described all the symptoms I couldn't think of anything else that could cause the problem. I think the only cartridge I've ever had a case come apart was my Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. 2 or 3 case necks have fractured and stayed in the chamber from a used batch of brass I got when I 1st got the rifle. Have had quite a few 22-250's nearly separate right in front of the solid head area in my Remington 788 which I blame on the fact that it is a rear locking gun which allows case stretch with a high-pressure cartridge such as the 22-250. Am anxious to see how much of this 357 case the gunsmith pulls out of your chamber.

[indian joe]

Did not save any brass. However, I shot 50 rounds. After, I took gun apart for cleaning and lube. Did not notice anything at that time, although I did not check with a snap cap at that time. The next time I went to the range, I couldn’t get one shot off.

It was working ok - you took it apart to clean, put it back together = it dont work ......m a y b e .. thers a clue there someplace ?????

[Kai]

A broken factory new once fired 357 mag case? Odd

[delftshooter]

A broken factory new once fired 357 mag case? Odd

2+2+5 is suddenly starting to add up to 6 for some reason... way to many things going wrong..

the posts when read in order come to 2 seperate versions

1. bought gun, did not clean chamber or bore, fired it, cartridge case broke, went home cleaned it, went to use it again and cartridge wont chamber.. help me please

2. bought gun, did not clean gun to well, went to shoot, could not chamber ammunition, help me



Somewhat reminds me of a gun store that the government shut down in my area 15 years ago when they discovered employees were taking display guns home to use, and allowing their friends to do the same.

[indian joe]

The op posts are very confusing
1) cleaned gun took it to the range, jammed on first attempt = obstruction was already lodged in barrel

2) after question "ammo worked fine last outing" = no problem last time

3) after more questioning "I shot 50 rounds" = has to be a separation on the very last shot of that 50 outing

??????????????????????????????

[delftshooter]

The op posts are very confusing
1) cleaned gun took it to the range, jammed on first attempt = obstruction was already lodged in barrel

2) after question "ammo worked fine last outing" = no problem last time

3) after more questioning "I shot 50 rounds" = has to be a separation on the very last shot of that 50 outing

??????????????????????????????

my stuffed goat plushie complained to me, someones been pulling his tail a tad to much..

[Baltimoreed]

I mentioned in post26 to get a dental mirror and a bright light and look into the chamber from the breach end. Glad he figured it out.